Monday, November 29, 2010

We are back in full swing here at Haus of Girls after a very long, yet much needed, Thanksgiving break.

I did lots o’ sewing for my first craft fair coming up this Saturday….

and also just for fun…..

I made Sophie some fun ruffle leggings….

and a gift for a friend’s sister’s new baby.

And I was even also able to finish, after finally narrowing down some cute fabric and receiving the cuteness in the mail, my girls’ three Christmas dresses. Just in time for Santa’s visit next Saturday!

I may or may not have gotten breakfast in bed on Thanksgiving morning.

I don’t know who was more excited, me or these two.

We decorated, like I mentioned above, but Gracie also became an even more intense hoarder with a few new items. Can you say “cow hat?” It’s really a Dalmatian print, but she thinks it’s cow. I am not correcting her anytime soon.

The tree all a glow.

We also fit in a road trip to my sister Haley’s house on Saturday to celebrate her husband’s father Frank’s 70th birthday! It was a fun night filled with cakebread and cake.

December begins in just two days. My favorite time of year is upon us. Let the memory making fun begin……

Friday, November 19, 2010

Like I mentioned earlier this week, the Project 320 girls and I have nicknamed some of our favorite foods “crack.” Only because we think they are truly just as addicting. (Just guessing as we have never actually tried the real stuff.)

I am actually thinking of starting a separate blog for all our crack recipes. A Holla girls crack blog of sorts…… something to think about.

Anyway, I wanted to share a tasty and easy appetizer recipe with you all This seems to be the pattern with all of my recipes, tasty and easy. The perfect combo don’t you think? Who doesn’t love a quick and easy recipe that’s so awesome it is nicknamed crack? I sure do.

So start your weekend out right and make this:

Chili Cheese Crack:

1 bar of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (do not use generic! believe me it’s not the same) 1 Can of No Bean Chili Approximately 1.5 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Simply spread out the cream cheese into a glass dish. (I may or may not use an old glass pie pan…) Spread the chili evenly on top of the cream cheese. Sprinkle cheddar on top of that. The end.

Microwave for about 3-4 minutes until hot all the way through. We use scoops to scrape this crack off the plate, but you could use other kids of chips or crackers.

This week I wanted to take a few minutes to remind my three sisters of how thankful I am for them. Because of them, my life growing up in a sometimes challenging and tough world, was so much easier.

I never felt alone or not a part of something. I never worried too much about fitting in with certain groups because at the end of the day, we were our OWN group.

From the left, Adie 28, Maggie 23, Me 31, and Haley, Adie’s twin, is also 28, obviously. We are all different, but also very much alike.

For example, Haley prefers a crochet hat, which is actually a doll dress, while Adie goes for a more classic look of a baseball cap five sizes too big. Then there’s me, all about the sunglasses, and white socks pulled up really high. Interesting. And Maggie, well she wasn’t born yet. Sorry Mags. But you were, by far, the cutest.

Remember this picture? Adorable.

Here is our family, the Viefhaus’ family back in 2003. From the left…. Maggie, Haley, Mom, Dad, Adie and I.

I am so thankful for three sisters that all understand me more than any friend could ever begin to.

I am thankful that we all share an addiction to sarcasm and happily embrace each other’s crazy sense of humor.

I am thankful to have never had the feeling that I had to try to be anything but myself growing up. I knew they would always love me for who I was.

They remind me why I shouldn’t wear high heels.

And kindly do wear high heels to make me feel shorter.

They tell me when I’m wrong without worrying about hurting my feelings. And they are the first people in my life to compliment and encourage me. Always making me feel good.

Four sisters is rare. But four sisters that all truly are each other’s best friends is even more rare.

I am so thankful for the journey we have taken together. Our pasts, spent making so many tremendous memories, is something sacred that no one else in the entire world can share with us.

We are, if you will, a Midwest version of the Kardashian sisters, without all the red carpet glam. Just our simple lives, filled with laughter, love and lots o’ babies.

I find that some people feel the need to travel the world in search of happiness and the meaning of life. But after time, they realize that what truly makes them happy, was right in front of them all along.

Home is where the heart is and I am thankful that I had such an amazing family that reassured this to me. Thanks to my sisters, and my entire family, I never felt the desire to search for anything in life. I have always realized that everything I have ever needed to bring me joy is right where it’s been all along.

Monday, November 15, 2010

I am not snobby about many things in life. At all. I am very open to a huge variety of different things. It’s rare for me to be picky about colors, music, clothes, and even food. I think, to each is own. Don’t judge.

However, there is one thing I am very picky about. Peanut Butter Cookies.

Over the years, I have searched high and low to find the best peanut butter cookie recipe ever, but time after time, I am disappointed. I often feel like Goldilocks…. Too crunchy. I like them a bit on the chewy side. Too fluffy. I like them ultra dense. Too small. I like them rather large.

But after trying a husband’s co-worker’s recipe last night, I think I’ve found my new favorite recipe. They are super moist, chewy and dense. Or as Goldilocks would say, Juuuuust right. And also very addicting.

Something I know a thing or two about after visiting my hollas last December for our first ever Project 320 get-together.

We found ourselves addictively inhaling several appetizers and desserts throughout the weekend. Soon after, the code word “crack” was appropriately given post-recipe name. Blue Cheese Crack, French Toast Crack, Toffee Crack, Crispy Crack and Corn Crack just to name a few.

I am pretty confident that these peanut butter cookies will, from now on, be known to me as Peanut Butter Cookie Crack.

And do you want to know the best part about this crack? There are only THREE ingredients. I couldn’t believe it either. When I initially read the recipe I saw peanut butter, one egg and granulated sugar. I thought to myself, no flour? I’ve never heard of such a thing. I was skeptical.

But when I took them out of the oven, I knew I found my long lost peanut butter love. Peanut Butter Cookie Crack, to be exact. Here are the directions…..

I am a week late, but I still want to participate in Be thankful on paper this Thanksgiving. Each week for the month of November I will write to the people in my life that I am greatly thankful for.

For week one, I want to thank the five children, and their families, that I care for during the days. For without these five, I would not have the life I am so blessed to have. I would not be able to be with my girls every second of the day.

Because of these five, I am able to put my family first and live the best life for me and family. I am able to kiss every boo boo, witness every first, laugh at every joke and not miss one single thing.

I am thankful for sweet Ryker…..

my cousin Krista’s adorable little girl Sam….

my sister Adie’s hilarious, 100% all boy, Meade……

kind Lily who I’ve cared for since she was six weeks old…..

and finally, amazing Mason who always brings a smile to everyone’s face.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to care for these five children and, in a way, be a teacher in my own home everyday.

I am able to teach things and guide my three girls, but also these five children, hoping that they will all learn and remember several important lessons from me: *Always be kind. *Be polite and say please and thank you because I feel that you should let others know that you appreciate them doing something for you. *It is never ok to hurt anyone, physically by hitting or kicking, or with your words. Unkind words are just as, if not more, hurtful than the physical. *Have fun. Life is about living, learning and making memories. *Life is not about being perfect or successful. It’s about being loved.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Today I chugged this instead of my typical homemade latte. Yummy refreshing pink lemonade Spark. Just what the doctor ordered for this slothish Momma trying to get back to feeling 100% after a few weeks of sickness.

One of my sweet clients, Selena, Momma to Mason who I care for during the day, brought over a big box of this AdvoCare Spark and I can’t thank her enough for her thoughtfulness.

Even though I feel like I am cheating on my coffee machine, I must say, I’m in love.

It has 21 Vitamins & Nutrients, NO SUGAR and will give you the focus and energy you need to get your day started. Also, for every Pink Lemonade SPARK sold $1 will be donated to the Brees Dream Foundation, helping to fight cancer and education for children.

Do you drink this? Do you want to? Because I can totally hook you up. Just say the word.

Monday, November 8, 2010

This year was our first time trick or treating in our new neighborhood and I must say, the girls had a blast. They were able to hand out candy to their friends for the first time and thought that was so much fun. Gracie’s favorite part was the Ghostbusters music I had blaring in the background.

This year we had an Equestrian Champion, Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and a Pink Flamingo. What a combo.

They were so excited Halloween was finally here!

Steve loaded up the trailer with some hay bales and pulled us around our subdivision. I have a feeling that this may be our new Halloween tradition. Our houses are really spread out and we have some major hills. Good for my workouts. Bad for our 2, 4 and 6 year old walking and hauling candy in costume shoes.

Can you guess what I was this year? Hint: It’s the same as what I was last year.

Mia and a sneaky spy.

Sophie with her best friend Lily dressed as Cinderella, who joined us on our hayride.

And finally, an action shot of the cutest trick or treaters I’ve ever seen. Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

My three girls are the happiest two, four and six year olds on the planet today. Why you ask? It is all because of my recent discovery of a magical thing called Free YouTube to mp3 Converter.

It’s crazy awesome for this music loving Haus of Girls. Instead of racking up tons of i-tunes fees downloading all the *special* songs your three daughters love to sing all day long, you can just convert the YouTube video into an audio mp3 file.

Yes, you heard me correctly. And it’s crazy easy if I can figure it out. On my own. Last night at midnight.

We recently watched Barbie a Fashion Fairytale and let me tell you, the jams are real catchy. Even I wanted these songs. I could only find one on i-tunes, so I purchased. I was not satisfied with the single tune. That would not a cd make for our six kid-filled Suburban trips to school every morning. So after researching, while simultaneously ordering a billion yards of ribbon so I can create tons of fun bows for the local high school dance team per the owner of the girls’ dance studio requests, I stumbled upon www.DVDVideoSoft.com.

{Dance party in action. Yes Gracie is still in her jammies.}

It has perked up this sick mom’s spirits and we have already had numerous dance parties today. I even converted some fun stories that the girls and I love like Goodnight Moon (I adore Susan Sarandon's narration) and The Very Hungry Caterpillar, to the fantastic, makes me cry every single time Edelweiss from the Sound of Music. Christopher Plummer’s version is my obvious favorite.

This new discovery will be such a fun way to introduce some of my favorites to them during the day or on our trips to school. Since YouTube has so many movies and clips from just about anything, a simple click to convert it to a file that I can just burn onto a cd makes this mom happy. And I bet it will made you very happy as well! The possibilities are endless.

I know what you are thinking, “Gosh, that Marta is so kind to share such a fun find. How can I ever thank her?”

Well, I have just the way. Do you remember how last year together with the help of donations from talented and generous artisans and crafters we

BUILT TWO WELLS?

You helped give two communities access to clean water. To life. To hope. To a future. Let's do it again.

How? By joining together our hearts, our passions and our talents, we together accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.

About Me

I am a wife to Steve and a Mommy to three little girls, Mia, Sophie and Gracie. Our family also includes our two dogs and one cat. Also girls. Our house truly is a Haus of Girls. Poor Steve! Our girls are my inspiration for all that I do. I am thankful to spend each day with them as they grow and learn more about life and the world. I feel complete, now, raising my family. No career or money is worth more to me than my little girls and being here for them everyday. When I am 85 sitting in a rocking chair, I will have no regrets. I will know I lived my life to the fullest and gave my girls the best gift in the world... their momma by their side.